Microsoft Word 365 Update
This tutorial shows how to update Word in Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) on a PC. Even if your Microsoft 365 account updates automatically, you may want to do a manual update occasionally because it doesn’t always update immediately upon the release of new features.
In addition to Word, this process will also update your other Microsoft 365 apps, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Effective July 1, 2019 the new Microsoft Campus Agreement (MCA) has significant changes in how licensing is distributed for University of Arizona faculty and staff. There is no change to the Student software (Microsoft Office 365 available for online use or software/app downloads). 2019 MS Visio and MS Project Pro Online Available for Download.
- Sign into your Microsoft account on a supported browser – Edge, Chrome, or Firefox Go to the Home tab Dictate button Alternatively, toggle the feature on and off using the keyboard shortcut ALT + ` (this is ALT + backquote – the same as the tilde key left of the number 1 on the keyboard).
- Microsoft 365 has all the familiar Office apps and more in one place. Work, learn, collaborate, connect, and create with Microsoft 365.
Please note that this process is for individual Microsoft 365 accounts. These steps will also work for Word 2019 and Word 2016.
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This process isn’t for group accounts, which are normally updated by the network administrator.
If you need to update Word 2013, Word 2010, Word 2007, or Word for Mac, please visit Microsoft’s support website.
This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.
Watch more than fifty other videos about Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat on my YouTube channel.
New features are added to Word in Microsoft 365 regularly. So, don’t miss the bonus section at the bottom of this tutorial to learn the easiest way to keep up to date on new features.
How to Update Word in Microsoft 365
- Ensure you are connected to the internet.
- Open Microsoft Word.
- Select the Account tab in the Home view.
Pro Tip: If you already have a file open, you can get to the Account view by selecting the File tab in the ribbon (see figure 11), followed by the Account tab in the Backstage view (see figure 12).
- Select the Update Options button in the Account view.
- Select Update Now from the menu. (If your button says Enable Updates instead of Update Now, select Enable Updates first.)
- Wait for the dialog box to run a check for updates.
If updates are found, another dialog box will appear stating that updates are being downloaded. The download process may take several minutes. (Skip to step 11 if you don’t have any updates.)
- Save your open files and close the apps listed in the Save your work before continuing dialog box. (Your apps may differ from the apps listed in figure 6.)
- Select the Continue button.
A dialog box will appear stating that updates are being applied. This dialog box will automatically close when the updates are finished.
- Reopen Word.
- Select the Close button in the dialog box stating that updates were installed.
- If no updates were found, select the Close button in the You’re up to date dialog box.
Now, let’s take a look at how to stay up to date with Word’s features.
Bonus Section: How to Learn about New Features in Word
You can learn about new features in Word for Microsoft 365 by visiting Microsoft’s web page “What’s New in Microsoft 365” or through Word’s interface:
- Select the File tab in the ribbon.
- Select the Account tab in the Backstage view.
Microsoft Word Office 365 Download
- Select the What’s New button in the Account view.
The What’s New pane will open.
Microsoft Word Vs Office 365
- Select the X to close the pane when you are finished reviewing the new features.